 |
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo
|
|
Review Date: Dec 21, 2008
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $829.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Color, contrast. Build quality. Includes tripod mount ring.
|
|
Cons:
|
Depth of field is miniscule.
|
|
|
After looking at hundreds of sample images from this lens and reading other photographers opinions I finally bought one.
It is quite expensive so I was slightly anxious about my purchase.
After a few weeks of refining my technique and getting to know this lens I am getting results that I did not think a macro lens could produce. Very good color and contrast along with sharpness that betters most of my lens collection.
Inanimate objects are fun but when your first insect photo rolls out of your printer one cannot help but be amazed at what this lens can produce.
The build quality is "L" class.
This lens can be hand held even at 5X but it is nice to have a macro rail and a very sturdy tripod for super critical macro work as the depth of field is very small. I also use the MT-24EX macro twin lite for the majority of my macro photography.
If you seek the ultimate macro lens this is it.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EOS Rebel XT (350D)
|
|
Review Date: May 30, 2008
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $699.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Size, Image Quality, Price.
|
|
Cons:
|
Shorter Battery Life than the 20D.
|
|
|
I have owned this camera for over two years. It was to be a backup to my Canon 20D.
Much to my surprise I found myself liking this camera the more I used it.
It is very light and small so hiking with it is no problem. The image quality is noiseless and equals the 20D.
There has been much written about the size of this camera and how it is too small for a persons hands. I am a tall man with a tall man's hands and find no problem at all with holding this camera. Because it is so light I often prefer taking this camera out instead of the 20D.
I am very pleased with my purchase of this camera. $ 799.00 American is not bad.
This camera is no 20D and some settings must be accessed through the menus but for the money not too bad.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EOS 40D
|
|
Review Date: May 20, 2008
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,150.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Speed, ergonomics, menu system, 14 bit and LCD monitor.
|
|
Cons:
|
None
|
|
|
After owning the 20D and 350 Rebel I was quite happy. So, for a birthday gift I bought a 40D.
The difference is first noticed by the speed of this camera. The 14 bit images have color and contrast that the other two cameras do not have. I believe that the only way to judge a camera is by printing and printing large. The prints from the 40D are just so much richer in color than the other cameras I have owned.
My menu, camera user settings, huge LCD monitor with very accurate color and the speed of the digic III makes this camera a joy to use.
Some people think this camera is a small upgrade from the 30D, nothing could be further from the truth.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
|
|
Review Date: Apr 17, 2008
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,310.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Very sharp wide open, typical L glass color and contrast. Image stabilization works very well especially when panning.
This lens is fun to shoot with.
|
|
Cons:
|
Not too fond of the push pull zooming. This lens on a 40D is heavy but the results justify the pain.
|
|
|
I have owned this lens about 1 year and a few months. My first results were disappointing, then after learning how to use a 400mm lens my results became better and better. It takes patience and desire to master this lens.
My finest photographs have come from this lens. I print very large and it seems to me that printed images really show the quality of this lens.
I also had to post process differently, this lens takes USM very well.
The only real negative is the weight of this lens. The push pull zoom is strange but acceptable.
I look forward to events where I can use this lens, its just nice to have the range this lens offers.
Best money I have ever spent on a lens.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
|
|
Review Date: Sep 7, 2007
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $950.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Focal length, Sharpness, Contrast, Suberb Color, Size, Weight and image Stabilization.
|
|
Cons:
|
None.
|
|
|
I use this lens on a crop body. The very first thing I noticed was the superb color, contrast, and sharpness at the first photo session.
It works very well for portraits in bright natural lighting.
I have not used this lens with my 580 EX flash but I have no doubt it will work well.
This lens sometimes gets reviews about poor sharpness, I believe this is the result of some users not being aware that Image Stabilization is wonderful for static objects but not for moving ones. This lens is the sharpest lens I own and it is the third "L" lens that I own as well as two prime lenses. I use this lens wide open and it is very sharp.
I am more than happy with this lens and it stays on my camera 95% of the time.
The only issue to be careful of, is watching your shutter speed for moving subjects. It is a F/4 lens not a F/2 or F/2.8.
This is the zoom lens I always wanted.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM
|
|
Review Date: Jun 12, 2007
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7
|
|
Pros:
|
Image stabilization, good zoom range, lightweight, cost.
|
|
Cons:
|
Chromatic aberrations, barrel and pin cushion distortion.
|
|
|
I have been using this lens with my Canon 20D for over two years.
I like the range this lens offers as well as the excellent image stabilization so very useful at low shutter speeds.
Using this lens with the 580 EX flash indoors produced very good results.
Now the bad, barrel and pincushion distortion at 17mm thru about 50mm and chromatic aberrations. Sharpness in the center is good but the edges suffer with this lens.
I rate this lens better than average because it is so useful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
